Container

ABSTRACT

A container ( 10 ) includes two chambers ( 14, 20 ). The main chamber ( 14 ) can receive the beverage. The other chamber ( 20 ) receives percussion means (not illustrated) such as ball bearings. The container can also include handle ( 11 ). The two chambers ( 14, 20 ) together with the handle ( 11 ) form the shape of a maraca.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved type of container. Thecontainer is suitable for holding a beverage, but is not limitedthereto.

BACKGROUND ART

According to French patent number 9513480 a champagne bottle has beenmodified to allow a musical device to be affixed to the base of thebottle.

The champagne bottle has a base which is recessed and the musical deviceis affixed to the bottom of the bottle in the recessed area, so that itdoes not affect the stability of the bottle when it is placed on a flatsurface.

According to the French patent, the champagne bottle with the musicaldevice affixed in the aforementioned manner, plays a pleasant tune whenthe bottle is lifted and tilted.

The present invention provides an alternative type of container whichallows it to be used as a percussive instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a container whichincludes:

-   -   a first chamber; and    -   a second chamber for receipt of percussion means,        which second chamber is sealed from the first chamber.

PREFERRED FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

It is preferred that the container further includes a neck portion whichis adapted as a handle to permit the container to be shaken as apercussion instrument.

It is preferred that the container further includes percussion meanswhich is confined in the second chamber.

It is preferred that the percussion means includes particulate matterconfined to the second chamber and adapted to make a noise when thecontainer is shaken.

Preferably the container is a bottle.

The container may be shaped like a maraca.

The first chamber may be located above the second chamber.

It is preferred that the first chamber and the second chamber togetherform an exterior surface of the container.

It is preferred that the container includes a bulbous lower end, whichlower end includes the first chamber and the second chamber.

It is preferred that the first chamber occupies a major part of thelower end of the container.

The container preferably includes a first part including the firstchamber and a second part including the second chamber.

It is preferred that the first part is removably connected to the secondpart.

It is preferred that the second part comprises a base portion which actsas a support for the first part.

It is preferred that the first part includes a connecting means.

The connecting means is preferably provided on a base portion of thefirst part.

According to one preferred form of the invention, the base portion issubstantially flat. According to an alternative form of the invention,the base portion is substantially concave.

According to one embodiment the base portion has a rim for supportingthe first part when the first part is not connected to the secondchamber.

The second part preferably includes a coupling means which is adapted tocouple to the connection means of the first part.

According to one particularly preferred form of the invention, theconnection means includes a downwardly directed protrusion which isadapted to connect with a female portion of the coupling means of thesecond part. According to this form of the invention, the first part ispreferably adapted to be screwed onto the second part or vice versa.

According to another particularly preferred form of the invention, theconnection means includes a structure which is a snap fit with acomplementary structure on the second part.

The second chamber may be sealed.

The particulate matter preferably includes at least one of ballbearings, plastic beads and ceramic beads.

The second part preferably includes an upper surface which is adapted toabut a lower surface of the first part.

It is preferred that the second part is permanently affixed to the firstpart.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described byway of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a bottle according to the present invention

FIG. 2 shows an angled front view of a first part of the bottle shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an angled top view of a second part of the bottle shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the second part.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the second part.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the first part according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the first part according to anotherembodiment

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1 a bottle in accordance with the preferred embodimentis shaped like a maraca.

The handle 11 of the bottle 10 flares upwardly and outwardly. A screw-oncap 12 may be fitted to the mouth of the bottle 10.

The neck 11 of the bottle 10 extends upwardly from a generally roundshaped main chamber 14.

The main chamber 14 has a base 15 as shown in FIG. 2.

A spigot 16 extends downwardly from the centre of this base 15 and isprovided with an external thread 17.

The spigot 16 is adapted to screw into a hole 18 with threaded internalperipheral walls adapted to permit the spigot 16 to be screwed thereinto.

The percussion part 20 according to the present embodiment of theinvention has a generally flat top surface 21 and has a generally bowlshaped outer peripheral surface with a slightly convex base 23.

According to an alternative preferred form of the invention which is notillustrated in the drawings, the base 15 and the percussion part 20carry complementary structures which provide for a snap fit between theparts 15 and 20.

Percussion beads or ball bearings are adapted to be placed inside thehollow percussion part 20 and the percussion beads may be scaled offinside the percussion part 20 prior to attachment of the percussion part20 to the spigot 16. Once the percussion part 20 is screwed onto thespigot 16 the two parts may be permanently connected together bysuitably gluing the opposing faces 14 and 21 of the main chamber 14 andthe percussion part 20.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 6 the size of the main chamber may vary,with the main chamber being larger in the bottle of FIG. 7 compared tothat of the bottle shown in FIG. 6.

It is intended that in use the bottle be filled with a beverage or othersubstance and that once the substance has been removed the bottle canthen be shaken like a maraca. It is also possible that the bottle can beused as a maraca prior to removal of the contents from it. However it ispreferred that the beverage is removed firstly to prevent accidentalspillage of the beverage from within the container and secondly toensure the best possible simulation of a maraca.

Variations may be made to the above described embodiment withoutdeparting from the overall concept. For example the percussion part ofthe bottle could be provided in the form of a specially shaped containerwhich is merely stuck to the bottom of the bottle.

Furthermore the percussion part could be in the form of a ring which isattached to the outside of the main chamber of the bottle. The ringcould be in the form of a toroid or similar shaped structure which maybe placed over the neck of the bottle.

According to another variation of the present invention the bottle couldbe made with two chambers formed therein and a small hole to the chamberhousing the percussion beads to enable the percussion beads to be placedtherein.

Once the percussion beads are inside the percussion bead chamber, thesmall opening could then be sealed.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention which is not shownin the drawings, the cap 12 includes a teat for excretion of contentsfrom the container.

Variations and modifications can be made in respect of the inventiondescribed above and defined in the following statement of claims.

1. A bottle including a first chamber and a second chamber, the secondchamber being sealed from the first chamber and containing particulatematter, the first chamber containing a liquid therein and including abody portion and a neck portion having a removable closure at an openend thereof, the neck portion extending from the body portion and havinga narrow profile with respect to the body portion, said neck portiondefining a handle, whereby the neck portion may be grasped to allow thebottle to be shaken as a percussion instrument.
 2. A bottle as claimedin claim 1 wherein the second chamber is located adjacent to the firstchamber at an end of the body portion opposed to the neck portion.
 3. Abottle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first chamber and secondchamber together form an exterior surface of the bottle.
 4. A bottle asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the body portion is formed into asubstantially bulbous shape.
 5. A bottle as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe neck portion is tapered such that the perimeter of the neck portionis smaller near the end adjacent to the body portion than at the openend.
 6. A bottle as claimed in claim 1 and which is shaped like amaraca.
 7. A bottle as claimed in claim 1, further including a firstpart including the first chamber and a second part including the secondchamber.
 8. A bottle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first part isremovably connected to the second part.
 9. A bottle as claimed in claim7 wherein the second part includes a base portion which acts as asupport for the first part.
 10. A bottle as claimed in claim 7 whereinthe first part includes a connecting means and wherein the connectingmeans is provided on a base portion of the first part.
 11. A bottle asclaimed in claim 10 wherein the base portion of the first part issubstantially concave.
 12. A bottle as claimed in claim 10 wherein thesecond part includes a coupling means which is adapted to couple to theconnecting means of the first part.
 13. A bottle as claimed in claim 12wherein the connecting means includes a downwardly directed protrusionwhich is adapted to connect with a female portion of the coupling meansof the second part.
 14. A bottle as claimed in claim 10 wherein theconnecting means includes a structure which is a snap fit with acomplementary structure on the second part.
 15. A bottle as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the bottle includes a bulbous lower end, which lower endincludes the second chamber and a large proportion of the first chamber.16. A bottle as claimed in claim 15 wherein the large proportion of thefirst chamber occupies a major part of the bulbous lower end of thebottle.
 17. A bottle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particulatematter includes any one or more of ball bearings, plastic beads andceramic beads.
 18. A bottle, comprising: a first section including abody portion and an elongate neck portion which together define a firsthollow chamber, the elongate neck portion extending from the bodyportion and terminating in an open end having a removable closure screwthreadingly connected to the open end; and a second section defining asecond hollow chamber sealed from the first hollow chamber andcontaining particulate matter, the first and second sections havingcomplementary outer surfaces which together form a semi-spherical shapethe second section further having a substantially flat base wall.
 19. Abottle as claimed in claim 18 further including a first part includingthe first section and a second part including the second section.
 20. Abottle as claimed in claim 19 wherein the first part is removablyconnected to the second part.
 21. A bottle as claimed in claim 19wherein the first part includes a connecting means and wherein theconnecting means is provided on a base portion of the first part.
 22. Abottle as claimed in claim 21 wherein the base portion of the first partis substantially concave.
 23. A bottle as claimed in claim 21 whereinthe second part includes a coupling means which is adapted to couple tothe connecting means of the first part.
 24. A bottle as claimed in claim23 wherein the connecting means includes a downwardly directedprotrusion which is adapted to connect with a female portion of thecoupling means of the second part.
 25. A bottle as claimed in claim 21wherein the connecting means includes a structure which is a snap fitwith a complementary structure on the second part.
 26. A bottle asclaimed in claim 18 wherein the particulate matter includes any one ormore of ball bearings, plastic beads and ceramic beads.